I was just thinking to myself how much I love my partner. We've been together now for coming on 9 years. It’s not love how I ever imagined it, I’m not talking about romantic love here, that’s the biggest load of garbage we've been sold via the big screen.
It’s the love that endures the annoying traits.
It’s the love that feels safe when the world is chaotic.
It's the love that puts up with one another’s moods.
It’s the love that sometimes feels distant.
It’s the love that feels reliable.
It’s the love that knows the other.
It's the love that allows each other to be an individual.
It’s the love that accepts who the other is.
It then got me thinking about self-love.
How is it easier to love another and all of their quirks and annoyances, but not necessarily apply this same love to self?
As I was writing and scanning the internet, this poem by R.M Drake came up in my feed. What an uncanny coincidence.
“Love yourself like it’s the only thing left to do”.
Just imagine what your life would look like right now if you made the decision to love everything about yourself and then make decisions from that place.
Sit with that for a minute.
This is what I needed to understand when I was 16. Why is it only now at almost 50, that I can fully understand how powerful it is to make this choice day in, day out?
Many years ago, someone close to me told me that I only thought about myself. I can still remember the physical sensation in my body when I heard those words. It came from a deep wound within me. An old wound created many years before. From a time when I have no clear memory of the event that caused it.
We all carry these wounds. Society teaches women what their role is well before they can form a strong sense of who they are themselves.
I am not blaming anyone here.
Self love and self awareness are powerful skills to master and don’t necessarily come easily.
If we wait for society to teach us how to love ourselves we will wait a lifetime. We have to do this for ourselves and spend time with those who have been practicing this art for a while. Life sure ain’t perfect, but loving yourself for who you are makes navigating the minefield a little more manageable.
So remember:
“Love yourself like it’s the only thing left to do”.
Mel x
#selflove #selfcare #selfawareness #youareworthit #belonging #strongwomen #stronglikeawoman #youareenough #loveyourselfmore #youngerself #iamme
Hi, my name is Melanie Briony and I am a fitness and lifestyle coach with over 10 years experience in the fitness and wellness field. As I reached my late 40's, I began to notice how women my age and older were missing from the conversation when it came to their fitness needs. I was also noticing changes in my own body that I couldn't find answers to which was really frustrating considering all the study I have undertaken over the last decade. Learning about menopause has been really enlightening, how did I not know this about my own body? That is why I am making it my business to bring this information to you from the best research available. Have any questions? Send me a message. Just because you are getting 'older' doesn't mean you have to give up trying. Getting older is inevitable, how you age is 100% your choice. This is the time in your life to really get to know who you are, what you want and how you are going to achieve it. These are the best years of your life, don't waste another minute.